New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie has a 2-1 job approval rating and a 2-1 lead over State
Sen. Barbara Buono, his Democratic challenger, but his coattails seem to have very little impact
on voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

New Jersey voters give Christie a 68 - 26 percent job approval rating, keeping him
number one in job approval among the governors in the nine states surveyed by Quinnipiac
University.

Only 20 percent of voters say they are more likely to vote for a state legislative candidate
endorsed by Christie, with 15 percent less likely and 63 percent who say the governor's
endorsement won't influence their vote.

Buono's coattails are even shorter as 8 percent say they are more likely to vote for her
picks, with 18 percent less likely and 70 percent who say her endorsement won't affect their
vote.

"Coattails looks like the only question in the one-sided New Jersey race for governor and
incumbent Christopher Christie doesn't seem to have them," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"The governor continues to thrash Sen. Buono, but voters say they're not inclined to
support legislative candidates because Christie supports them, or, as a matter of fact, because
Buono supports them," Carroll added.

"It could change when the real campaign starts after Labor Day, if Christie decides to
emulate his mentor, former Gov. Tom Kean, and work for the rest of the ticket.

"But at this stage, Christie is good only for Christie."

If Christie wins, New Jersey voters say 51 - 36 percent they would like the Democrats
rather than Republicans to control the State Legislature. If Buono wins, 43 percent of voters
want Democratic control and 41 percent want Republican control of the legislature.

Buono gets a 25 percent favorability rating, with 29 percent unfavorable and 45 percent
who don't know enough about her to form an opinion.

New Jersey voters support a state law allowing same-sex marriage 60 - 31 percent, with
almost no gender gap. Support is 69 - 23 percent among Democrats and 64 - 28 percent among
independent voters, with Republicans opposed 49 - 39 percent.

"Christie-Buono looks like a walk-away. The governor's job approval is stratospheric
and even his veto of same-sex marriage, an issue which continues to draw 2-1 support, hasn't
hurt him," Carroll said.

From July 2 - 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068 New Jersey voters with a margin
of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

13. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Barbara Buono the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote?

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? (*High also 71% Feb 1999)

22. If Christopher Christie supports a state legislative candidate, would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it make a difference?